Spring-motor for cars



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W.- T. LARIMORE.

SPRING MOTOR FOR GARS.

No. 253,072. Patented Jan. 31,1882,

/Zffr A 0 e (No Model.) l 2 sheets-sheet 2, W. T. LARIMORE.

SPRING MOTOR POR GARS.

No. 253,072. Patented Jam. 31,1882.

N. PETERS, PMm-liihngmphcr, wfhingin4 D. CA

Pff? m( 'NITE STATES PATENT Tarea.

'ILLIAM T. LARIMORE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SPRING-MOTOR FOR CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 253,072, dated January 31, 1882.

Application filed November 25, 1881.

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, WILLIAM T. LARIMORE, of St. Louis, in the County of St. Louis and State of lWIissouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Motors for Gars, 85e., of which the following is a t'nll, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to mechanism for horse-ears, to assist the horses in starting of the same, and otherwise in the running ofthe cars-as, for instance, in ascending inclines, and it consists in a spring band or bands arranged to be coiled from the ruiming ot' the wheels, and to uncoil, and as it uneoils to work upon the wheels, and thus assist in the movement ofthe car, all substantially as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying plates of drawings, Figures l and 2 are side andplan views, respectively, of the body of a horsecar having my invention attached thereto. Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 33, Fig. l,enlarged; Figs. 4 and 5, detail views, enlarged, in elevation; Fig. 6, a detail elevation,.Fig. 7 a detail plan view, and Fig. S a detail sectional view, all enlarged.

In the drawings, A represents a horse car body arranged to inn upon wheels B, all as ordinarily.

The axle u of one pair ot' wheels is provided with a gear-wheel, O, with which meshesv a pinion-wheel, b, carrying a sprocketwheel, D,

i arranged to turn as one in suitable hearings ot' the car-body.

t E is an endless chain connecting the sprocket-wheel D with another sprocket-admet, F, on a horizontal shaft, el, turning in suitable bearings on the car-body, and thus the shaft d is driven from the revolution of the car-wheel axle a. This shaft d carries another sprocketwheel, G, arranged to turn therewith, and to slide lengthwise thereon, the 'connection between the two being a horizontal spline, f.

H is an endless chain, connecting sliding sprocket-wheel G with another sprocket-wheel, J, arranged to turn loosely upon another shat't, g. This chain II runs lengthwise of the ear and intermediate ot' the two sprocketwheels G and J. lt passes in one length, It, betweeh the grooved rolls K of an upright post, L, and

(No model.)

in its otherlength, l, between grooved rolls Mot' an upright post, N. Each post is arranged to be moved vertically in a separate stationary vertical socket, on, and to be lowered against a spring, a, in its respective socket, and the two posts are arranged out of a longitudinal line with each other, and one upon one side and the other upon the other side ot` a common'longitudinal transverse shaft, O, arranged to turn in suitable bearings on the car-body. This transverse shaft carries a loose sprocketwheel, l?, which is provided with a springranged to clutch with the vertical face of the sprocket-wheel Q., and to beheld to such clutch by a spiral spring, q, on the shaft O, having its bearing at one end against collar R and at its other against an adjustable nut, r, of the shalt O. This clutch turns with the shaft O and can slidelengthwisethereon. Thesproeket-wheel P is in line with the length 7i, and the sprocket-wheel Q is in line with thelength lof the chain H.

S is a spring-band coiled around the sha-ft O, and attached at one end thereto and at the other to the car-body.

T is a ratchet-wheel secured on shaft O, and s is a spring-pawl engaging therewith. This pawl is attached to the car-body, and has an arm, t, in position to be struck by an arm, a, ot' the sliding post L when such post is depressed against its spring.

U is a line leading troni the post L under a pulley-wheel, c, and thence overa pulley-wheel, Y

te, ot' the ear-body, to a drnni,V, to which it is secured, which drum is arranged to be turned by a crank-handle, a.

W is a line leading to the drum V, similarly to line U, y z being the pulleys therefor. The turning ot' the crank-handle in one direction pulls the line U in a direction to depress the post L, and in the other direction it pulls the line Win a direction to depress the post N, and in. either case it leaves the opposite post iree to lit't under the action of its spring. The depression of the one post L puts the length It of chain H which passes between its pul- ICO leys into connection with its sprocket-wheel, and places 'the other length, I, out ot' connection with its sprocket-wheel. When the length l of the chain H is in connection with its sprocket-wheel Q the spring S is caused by the revolution of the ear-axle to be wound up, and when the length h of chain is in connection with the sprocket-wheel P connection is lnade for such wound spring to operate upon the car-axle by its unwinding, provided the holding-pawl s is released,which is done by the abutment of the arm u of the post L against the arm t of the pawl s, and the consequent release of such pawl from its engagement with its ratchet-wheel T, and then the shaft O is set free to rotate under the action of the spring, and through the connections described the power of the spring is communicated to the car-axle.

In the operation of the car the chain H,when connccted,is in constant motion, and when the line of chain h is engaged with the sprocketwheel P, if the spring catch or pawl s is not released from the ratchetwheel T, then the sprocket-wheel P will turn on the shaft O, its springpawl o slipping over its ratchet-wheel p; but as the spring-pawl s is released the spring S will then, in its unwinditrg, tnrn the sprocket-wheel P through its pawl and ratchet-wheel connection.

To carry out this invention more fully, an endless chain, H, with its sprocket-wheels, can be arranged on each side of the car and in between the same series of springs S, and shafts can be located as the space will permit,which springs can be arranged to operate as above described, each chain and its connection operating independent springs, or in a series, as desired; also, in lieu ot' winding up the springs S by the turning of the wheels in the running of the cars, they can be wound by independent means, such as a steamengine or any power located at different points on the line of travel.

By arranging' the endless chain H on each side of the car the wheels at each end 'of the ear can be'connected so as to operate, thereby increasing the power over the same.

In the use of this invention in descending hills, the momentum can then be used to wind up the spring S, obviating to some extent the use of the brake, thereby utilizing the power that otherwise would have to be used in brak'- ing the car.

The clutch It is arranged to slip orpass over its connection with the sprocket-wheel Q, to prevent the breaking ot' any ofthe connecting parts should the chain-connections continue to operate on the shaft after the spring has been fully wound, such slip being regulated by the spring q and screw-nut r.

The sprocket-wheels G and J, being loose on their respective shafts, can move thereon longitudinally, according to the line of direction in which the chain H is operating, the spline f, however, making a positive connection of the sprocket-wheel G with its shaft for the purpose ot' operating the chain.

As is obvious, this invention is applicable to l.

the running of the ears in lieu of horses or other motive power.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The coil-spring S, endless chain H, rnnning in line with sprocket-wheels G, P, Q,and J, of which two, P Q, are upon a common shaft, O, in combination with the posts L N and their connections for operating the same, and with sprocket-wheels I) F and endless chain E, connected to a car-axle, all substantially as described, for the purpose speciled.

2. The coil-spring S, endless chain H, running in line with sprocket-wheels G P Q J, of which two, P Q, are upon a common shaft, O, ratchet-wheel T, and paw] s, in combination with the posts L N and their connections for operating the same, and with sprocketwheels D F and endless chain E, connected to a earaxle, all substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

3. The coilspring S, endless chain H', running in line with sprocket-wheels Gr P Q J, ot' which two, P Q, are upon a common shaft, 0, having' sliding clutch R, ratchet-wheel T, and pawl s, in combination with the posts L N and their connections for operating the same, and with sprocket-wheels I) F and endless chain E, connected to a car-axle, all substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

4. In combination with the coilspring S, endless ehain H, ruiming in line with sprocketwheels G P Q J, of which two, P Q, are upon a common shaft, 0, in combination with the posts L N and their connections for operating the saine, the sprocket-wheel Gr, connected to its shaft by a spline, j', substantially a-s and for the purpose specitied.

In testimony whereofl have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

NV. T. LARIMORE. Vitnesses:

EDWIN W. BROWN, WMS. BELLows.

IOO 

